Heartworm medicines are a range of vet-provided drugs that help prevent your dog or from heartworm infection. Heartworm is transmitted through mosquito bites and the parasites will infest the heart of the animal. If left untreated, heartworms can prove fatal. It's important to provide your pet with heartworm medication, but an overdose of the meds can also prove dangerous for the animal.
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Identification
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Many heartworm medications contain the same active ingredient to prevent heartworm infection. Heartguard and Iverhart use the active ingredient ivermectin. Milbemycin oxime is the active ingredient in Interceptor.
Types
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Heartworm medicine overdose symptoms can prove difficult to diagnose since many of the signs are similar to other common disorders in animals. However, if you suspect heartworm medicine overdose, look for disorientation, fatigue, diarrhea and vomiting.
Considerations
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In rare cases, heartworm medicine overdose can result in severe reactions, especially if the animal has received an especially high dose. Symptoms may include tremors and dilated pupils. In some cases, sudden death may even occur. Contact your vet immediately if you suspect your pet may have been given too high of a dose of its heartworm medicine.
Effects
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Although the heartworm medicine works differently on the body chemistry of dogs and cats, the symptoms of heartworm medicine overdose are the same. Both cats and dogs are likely to have both vomiting and diarrhea if they are given too much of the heartworm medicine.
Prevention/Solution
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To ensure that your household pet does not suffer from a heartworm medicine overdose, monitor their dosage carefully. Heartworm medicine is to be given once a month and should be marked on the calendar for better tracking. Dosage amount will also depend on the dog or cat's weight. Follow your manufacturer's recommendations in order to ensure you provide the animal with the correct amount. Also, never give a double dose of heartworm medicine if you miss a dose.
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